Today is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, the theme of which is Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission Goes On. Catchy or not, that title does a pretty good job of summing up where we are in terms of addressing global ozone depletion.
As the world warms up around us, climate change is becoming an ever-more topical subject. Newsrooms can’t get enough of it, politicians worry that their legacy will be haunted by it and, as the British winter draws to a close, most people are still up to their knees in it
Concerted action to combat climate change remains elusive, the illegal wildlife trade is booming and exploitation of natural resources such as forests far exceeds capacity to regenerate. One underlying cause for this disconnect is the failure to adequately implement and enforce laws designed to protect the environment
In advance of the 19th Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), our Climate Campaigner, Natasha Hurley, reflects on the challenges that lie ahead and the global action required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
HFCs are used as refrigerant gases. They are very good at cooling our food, they are even better at warming the Earth. Some retailers accept their environmental responsibilities and invest in HFC-free systems, but others have yet to be convinced. For this reason energy efficiency is a focal point of this year’s report
An entire book deserves to be written on how the world’s big chemical companies have cynically sought to undermine the science of climate change with the sole aim of raking in more profit but on World Ozone Day it’s important to focus on the positives and consider why the global ozone regime remains as relevant as ever